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HopeDance sex issue tossed by libraries; content too graphic

Publisher says county’s action is censorship

By April Charlton / Staff Writer / acharlton@timespressrecorder.com

A decision to pull the July/August issue of the free alternative publication HopeDance from county libraries has left some crying censorship and others applauding.

County Library Director Brian Reynolds ordered his staff in a July 13 e-mail to remove the issue from all library shelves and dispose of it.

Reynolds declined to answer questions about his decision based on advice from the county counsel.

In the e-mail, Reynolds writes, “Yesterday and today I took a long look at the latest HopeDance magazine. This particular issue seems to be dedicated to sex, including some graphical illustrations.

“I am not comfortable having this particular issue of the magazine on our free shelves. Take a look at it, as well, and you’ll see why I am concerned.”

The issue’s cover features a painting of a naked woman and articles with such titles as “Beyond Right & Wrong: An Inquiry into Pornography,” “Sex and the Geezerette” and “Public Masturbator Blues.”

HopeDance publisher Bob Banner said he doesn’t understand why the issue was pulled and said Reynolds himself couldn’t provide him answers.

Banner has retained a lawyer but hasn’t decided whether he’ll file a lawsuit against the county and Reynolds, who he said never called him prior to removing the issue.

“I’m a little upset; thousands of them were tossed,” Banner said, adding he feels Reynolds’ decision constitutes censorship.

Banner said Reynolds told him he was concerned that teenagers would pick up the issue and read it, which is why he pulled it.

When Banner asked the director about books in the library system containing information about sex and pictures of naked women that teens have access to, Banner said Reynolds was silent.

HopeDance is about “radical solutions inspiring hope,” and Banner said the idea behind the sexuality issue was to show a balance between the good and bad sides of sex.

“I don’t do sexuality a lot, (but) it’s a huge topic,” he said. “Let’s all be mature and talk about it.”

HopeDance is also distributed in Sonoma, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Banner said the issue hasn’t created problems in those counties.

Bill Denneen, who distributes HopeDance in Nipomo, thought the July/August cover was a painting he’d seen years ago in a church in Italy and found nothing pornographic about the issue.

“Americans have hang-ups with naked ladies, I guess,” Denneen said. “I thought it was art. I feel this is censorship of what we read.”

Denneen said he also believes teens need to learn about sex and not be protected from it, especially at a library.

“I’m very much in favor of young people learning about contraceptives, sex and reproduction so they can better deal with it, rather than the pregnancy epidemic going through our country with teenagers right now,” he added

Nipomo resident Ken Shamordola doesn’t agree with Denneen and contends a public library is the last place the July/August copy of HopeDance should be displayed.

Shamordola threw the issue out after reading the cover and believes Reynolds made the right decision.

“You can call it censorship if you like, but the First Amendment doesn’t allow us to do everything that we want,” he said. “Judgment is required. I just felt that judgment wasn’t used (by Banner).”

Reynolds plans to allow future issues of HopeDance on library shelves, Banner said.

HopeDance was first published 10 years ago, and 6,000 to 7,000 copies are distributed in San Luis Obispo County.

August 23, 2006